I was born as a son of a Muslim Malaysian. Our family has a long
leading religious and political tradition in Malaysia. As leading
personalities in a Muslim country Islamic religion was omnipresent
and central in our lives.

I was raised according to Muslim tradition, was educated in Arabic
language, the Koran, cleansing rituals, praying, fasting etc. But I
also had the privilege to travel a lot as a young boy and live in
different countries and learn a lot about different cultures and
religions. I knew Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Christians and I really
wanted to find out, which religion is the right one. Obviously there
couldn't just be one God and several religious ways to near him
because the teachings and commandments of the several religions
are often so contradictory, it couldn't be the same God who gave
them to mankind. Look into creation! Study the laws of physic. We
daily can experience a Creator with unimaginable wisdom, knowledge
and logic! And this Creator can't be that confusing and chaotic like
the religions in this word reflect.

I remember an event when I was around six years old. Due to the
position of my father he often traveled around and sometimes I didn't
see him for months. One day I really missed him and was so eager to
meet him. It came into my mind to pray to Allah and ask him to bring
my father back. But at this moment I had a big problem! I knew how
to pray in Arabic and the cleansing ceremony but I didn't know how
to pray to Allah for a specific need. I wasn't able to speak to Allah
in an appropriate way and with the right words, in the correct formal
order. I experienced Allah as a God who was very, very far a way.
A holy God only to be reached with an in-depth knowledge of the Koran
and its commandments, right cleansing rituals and correct Arabic
language. On the other hand I learned Christianity as a simple
religion founded on love and forgiveness - and always ready to accept
the weak and unworthy. I always was impressed when I watched the
Christian films as a small boy. In Quo Vadis for example the
persecuted Christians were tortured by the Romans and they willingly
were ready to forgive them for these bad deeds. The Christians were
then thrown to the wild, hungry lions in the amphitheatre. Facing
death they started to praise and worship their God. I felt an
indescribable strength spreading out from those Christians. They
were weak, but even though strong. They were dying, but they were
sure to live in eternity. I was impressed and also confused. I
decided to pray in a neutral way and asked for the returning of my
father by the next day.

The next day someone knocked our door. As I opened it I recognised
my father smiling at me. He told me that he wanted to surprise us
with his coming! I was so happy and knew that God answered my prayer.
I was by that time convinced that God exists. But it was on my heart
to find the right one!

Back in Malaysia I experienced the Islamic culture and laws as
very difficult to fulfil. During Ramadan when we were fasting I even
wasn't allowed to swallow my saliva. When I farted after the cleansing
ritual and before praying I had to go through the ritual once again.
After yawning I had to pray a verse from the Koran so no demons where
able to enter me through my mouth. I wasn't allowed to touch dogs,
not even to play with toy dogs. I had a necklace with religious
writings. Before going to toilet I had to take it off. And there
were thousands of other rules and commandments I had to obey.
And I was so afraid to do something wrong and to fail, I just couldn't
find an inner peace.

At one occasion I received a Bible and I started to read it. I read
in the New Testament the four gospels (Matthew, Luke, Mark and John).
And every single word spoke to my heart. I learned that for God we are
all sinners. And how hard we try to fulfil the laws we wouldn't succeed.
Because God is even holier than I thought. Only one sin in our life
is enough for not being able to enter heaven. And I knew that I have
committed at least one sin in my life. But God also says: (Eph 2:8 NIV)
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not
from yourselves (by trying to fulfil the commandments), it is the gift
of God."

***

One day my father and I were very ill. I went to several doctors,
but they weren't able to diagnose my illness. Despite all the medicine
I took, I felt weaker from day to day. I had already lost 12 kg of
weight and I felt that my time to pass a way was near. Then I started
to pray to God. I confessed Him all my sins. And I asked for forgiveness.
I accepted the sacrifice God gave through His son Jesus Christ and that
Jesus died in my place for my sins. I wasn't able to eat, to stand up
nor do anything physically - but I was able to pray and I prepared to
face God in eternity for the last judgement. And it was my wish to be
able to enter heaven.

After maybe four or five weeks vegetating in my room without any
care I was hospitalized. At that time my father was already in the
ICU (intensive-care unit). One morning relatives woke me up and told
me that my father had just passed away ...

The official version of the cause of his death was heart failure.
But actually the doctors didn't know exactly the reason of our sickness.
There are rumours that we were poisoned or even victims of black magic.
I believe that I survived according to the word in Mark 16:17-18 NIV
"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they
will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will
pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison,
it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick
people, and they will get well."

A few years later I had a nervous breakdown and also psychologists
couldn't help me. I remembered that God, who is able to help in
hopeless situations. Who makes believers able to forgive their enemies,
to worship Him while facing death in amphitheatres, who is able to heal
when one drink deadly poison and also is willing to help in depressive
moments. Coincidentally my wife brought me to a service of an American
evangelist (Ray Jennings). There we as a whole family converted to
Christianity. The evangelist also layed his hands on me and prayed for
healing and I immediately recovered according to the word:
"And these signs will accompany those who believe: ... they will place
their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Today I live with God and know that He is with me. And I want you
to know, dear Muslim reader, that the only true and real God of the
Bible will also be with you when you decide to follow the way of
Jesus.